Ottawa funds Indigenous-led online-safety project with $800,000

The federal government will provide $800,000 over five years to the National Association of Friendship Centres for an Indigenous-led online-safety project.

Public Safety Canada announced the funding on October 15 for the Bringing Empowerment, Awareness, Culture and Online Navigation project, known as BEACON.

Friendship Centres across Canada are expected to deliver culturally relevant education about online child sexual exploitation risks. The project will work with youth, families, Elders, service providers and community partners on prevention and support.

BEACON also plans to improve information collection on Indigenous youths’ online experiences. The department says that evidence is intended to inform future policies, programs and prevention strategies.

The funding comes through the Contribution Program to Combat Serious and Organized Crime. The federal release describes BEACON as a prevention and education initiative; it is not a replacement for emergency services or law-enforcement reporting.

Source: Public Safety Canada, BEACON funding announcement, published October 15, 2026.

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